Holland, fortunate to beat the Czech Republic earlier in the week with a hotly disputed penalty, finally found their feet in the second half, goals from Patrick Kluivert, Ronald de Boer and Boudewijn Zenden condemning the Danes to the early exit.

A largely uneventful first half was notable only for Rangers midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst being booked for a hefty challenge on Morten Bisgaard and Denmark's Thomas Gravesen's 20-yard shot striking the crossbar.

Fears that the second period would be as stagnant as the first dissipated when a moment of brilliance from Dennis Bergkamp broke the stalemate in the 58th minute.

The Arsenal striker found space on the edge of the area and poked the ball through the Danish backline and ran onto it himself.

Schmeichel made a sprawling save, with the ball landing at the feet of Kluivert, who sidefooted the ball beyond the keeper from the edge of the box.

Overmars was replaced by Ronald de Boer shortly afterwards and within eight minutes of the first, the substitute had doubled the lead. Zenden, having reverted to the left on Overmars' exit, fired in a low 65th-minute centre for de Boer to finish from within the six-yard box.

Zenden added Holland's third in the 77th minute before Danish misery was compounded when Michael Schjonberg pushed an 80th-minute penalty wide.

DENMARK: Schmeichel, Schjonberg, Henriksen, Heintze, A. Nielsen, Gronkjaer, Tomasson, Sand, Colding, Bisgaard, Gravesen. Subs: Sorensen, Kjaer, Hogh, Helveg, Jorgensen, Laursen, B. Nielsen, Tofting, Goldbaek, Beck, Molnar.

HOLLAND: van der Sar, Reiziger, F. de Boer, Zenden, Cocu, Davids, Kluivert, Bergkamp, Overmars, van Bronckhorst, Konterman. Subs: de Goey, Westerveld, Seedorf, van Vossen, Bosvelt, R. de Boer, van Hooijdonk, Numan, Winter, Makaay.